The Best Guidelines To Raise Interracial Kids
Posted by Admin on May 10, 2018

Photo Credit : The National Memo

Raising children to be strong, healthy, capable adults is the hardest job in the world. And, for families of mixed race it’s even harder. Here are some dos and don’ts to help your children deal with societies that still, unfortunately, have issues with interracial couples and children of mixed race.

Don’t tell them they’re half of anything.

Parents often make the mistake of telling children that they’re half white and half black, for example.

While this might not seem like an untrue or damaging statement at first glance, there are many reasons why it’s better to avoid phrasing it like that.
It’s much more reassuring to tell a mixed child that they’re both white and black . This way they will feel like they belong in both cultures, not like they’re not fully welcome in either.

Learn about the other culture they’ve been born into.

While your partner will most likely be teaching your child the most about their culture, it would help if you’re also involved.

If you’re white and your child is partly Hispanic, learning to speak Spanish will help you build a stronger relationship with them while helping them stay in touch with that part of their identity.

You could also make sure to teach them your own native language. A mixed child that can speak the languages from both of their cultures will feel a lot more confident about their identity.

Don’t assume you speak for their race.

Even if your child is mixed black and white, you shouldn’t assume you have the authority to speak on black issues when you’re not black, or vice versa.
Don’t use your child or your partner’s race as an excuse to share inflammatory statements that you wouldn’t say otherwise.

Allow your partner to have the same amount of influence.
Parents can sometimes fight about which culture their child will be raised in. You might want to raise your child in the traditional African way, while your partner will lean more towards their Asian heritage, for example.

Neither person is wrong or right in a situation like this. It’s important for parents of a mixed child to be allowed to share their cultural heritage without competing with each other or trying to force the child to pick a side.

As they grow up, they might lean towards one or the other, but this is their personal choice and should never be a competition between parents.
Let them get close with people from both their cultures.

A mixed black and white child who only ever spends time with their white family members might feel a bit lost when it comes to their black identity.
It’s important to try and expose children to both sides of the family, even if it’s difficult due to parents objecting to your interracial relationship .
Don’t feel offended if they don’t identify with your culture.

As mentioned before, most mixed race children identify more strongly with one culture than the other in many cases.
For example, if they end up embracing black culture and show little interest in your Asian heritage, it’s not fair to act rejected and take it as a personal insult. It’s their choice and it’s what makes them happy.